The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. For anyone who wants to be alerted by email whenever this newsletter is updated (usually weekly), please send your email address and let me know what state you live in (so I can keep track of my readership).

Marty Block Fundraising Event with Speaker Perez Date(s): Saturday, May 1, 2010Time: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PMDescription: We are enjoying a Saturday in the Park with speaker Perez at the Prado Restaurant on Saturday May 1st. There is a general reception between 10:30am and noon, where we are requesting a donation of $250 for hosts and $78 for a general admission ticket. Following the reception, between noon and 1:30pm, we have a private lunch scheduled for sponsors and are requesting a donation of $1000 per ticket or the maximum of $3900 for six tickets. I hope you can join us at this important, timely event to support Marty's re-election campaign.Location: The Prado Restaurant, 1549 El PradoContact: (619) 947-2755Email: judy@martyblock.com

CARA Town Hall Candidates for San Diego City Council and County Supervisor Date(s): Saturday, May 1, 2010Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PMDescription: The California Alliance for Retired Americans is holding a Town Hall at the Machinist Hall. Please join us to hear from candidates for City Council 4 and 6 as well as County Supervisor 4. Free refreshments will be available.Location: Machinist Hall, 5150 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego 92111 (near Clairemont Mesa Blvd)Contact: (858) 485-5774 or (619) 441-0281Email: guydoncargulia@aol.com

Join Toni Atkins for a SuperWalk in Clairemont Date(s): Saturday, May 8, 2010Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PMDescription: Please join us for a Clairemont SuperWalk for Toni Atkins, candidate for the 76th Assembly District. If you can volunteer to walk a precinct please phone or email Tim Orozco. Then, just grab your walking shoes, meet at at the campaign office, then head out to meet the voters one-on-one to share Toni's positive message for a better California!Location: Campaign Office, 1940 5th Avenue, Suite 202, San Diego (between Fir and Grape Streets)Contact: Tim at (619) 450-4451Email: timrandyo@aol.comWebsite: www.AtkinsforAssembly.com

Escondido Democratic Club May Meeting Date(s): Saturday, May 8, 2010Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PMDescription: This month EDC will hear from Democratic candidates for Congress in the 49th and 50th Districts. There will also be a short presentation on the issues surrounding Escondido Police checkpoints. The 49th District, covers northern San Diego County and parts of southwestern Riverside County. Howard Katz, our Democratic candidate for the 49th Congressional District, faces an uphill battle against a wealthy and well-known incumbent Republican Darrell Issa. Competing for the Democratic nomination for the 50th Congressional District are Escondido's Tracy Emblem and Cardiff-by-the-Sea's Francine Busby. The 50th District covers from Clairemont north to Carlsbad and inland to Escondido and parts of Rancho Bernardo. Brian Bilbray is the Republican incumbent. Club members will be asked to consider endorsements in these races following the candidate presentations. Members will also be asked to consider recommendations for propositions appearing on the June ballot.Location: East Valley Community Center, 2245 E. Valley Pkwy, EscondidoContact: (760) 740-8595Email: communications@escondidodems.orgWebsite: www.escondidodems.org

Meet the Candidates with Lake San Marcos Democratic Date(s): Saturday, May 8, 2010Time: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PMDescription: This is your opportunity to meet three 2010 candidates and hear about the issues and priorities at the top of their list: Fabio Marchi for 5th Supervisorial District; Chrystal Crawford for 74th Assembly District(member of SANDAG Bd and Del Mar City Council); and Gila Jones for 38th State Senate District (San Juan Capistrano's Housing Advisory Committee Chair, Capistrano Dispatch columnist,and more). Social starts at 12:30pm and meeting begins at 1pm.Location: Lake San Marcos Pavilion, 1105 La Bonita Drive, Lake San Marcos, CA 92078Contact: (760) 744-9233Email: m.borevitz@cox.netWebsite: www.lsm.sddem.org

Black Mountain Democratic Club Meeting Date(s): Thursday, May 20, 2010Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PMDescription: A representative from the San Diego Chapter of the League of Women Voters will review the propositions on the June ballot, including propositions on the strong mayor form of government, fair elections at the state level, and open primaries. For a look at your ballot, see www.smartvoter.org.Location: 10550 Caminito Flores (Mesa Village Rec Hall #1), San Diego 92126Contact: (858) 245-8979Email: jerryollinger@hotmail.comWebsite: www.blackmountaindemocrats.org

2nd Annual Harvey Milk Breakfast Date(s): Friday, May 21, 2010Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AMDescription: Don't miss the 2nd Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, held this year at the Bayfron Hilton. This event was a huge success and sold out quickly last year, so get your tickets fast. The Party is encouraging folks to sit with the San Diego Club, our local LGBT organization, one of the oldest and largest clubs in the County. For more info and to sit at the SDDC table, contact Special Events Chair Matt Corrales by email. Tickets are only $40 (checks to "San Diego Democratic Club") and this year's special guests include Lt. Dan Choi.Location: San Diego Bayfront Hilton. 1 Park Blvd, SD CA 92101Price: $40.00 / PersonContact: (951) 551-6645Email: matt.corrales@gmail.comWebsite: www,sddemclub.org

San Diego Democratic Women Club Meeting Date(s): Saturday, May 22, 2010Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMDescription: The San Diego Democratic Women's Club will feature a presentation from Liberty One Radio and consider endorsements from all candidates for the June 2010 primary who have submitted a Club questionnaire. Email SDDEMWomen@aol.comFree and open to the public.Location: City Heights Library, 3795 Fairmount Ave, San Diego 92114Contact: (619) 582-5383Email: SDDEMWomen@aol.comWebsite: www.women.sddem.org

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market is a member-owned vegetarian consumer co-op that has been serving the community since 1971. Originally a worker's collective, the cooperative has grown to include 6000 feet of retail space and more than 8000 member/owners. The Co-op offers an extensive selection of organic produce, grocery, dairy, and bulk foods and herbs, as well as vitamins and homeopathics, cruelty-free bodycare, and aromatherapy products. Enjoy a full service sit-down deli featuring a delicious selection of home-style vegetarian and vegan entrees, salads, sandwiches, freshly prepared baked goods, desserts, and more! At People's, San Diego's only community owned grocery store, we specialize in products that are organic, wholesome, minimally processed, cruelty-free, and environmentally safe.

I used to shop at this one way, way back when I went to UCSD. It was great then!

Since its introduction to the campus in 1978, the Food Co-op has committed itself to providing the UCSD community with a natural food alternative, as well as a resource for environmentally conscious products and information.

The Food Co-op carries a variety of food and non-food products ranging from baked goods, juices, sandwiches, fresh organic produce, macro-biotic and ethnic foods to cruelty-free cosmetics and environmentally safe cleaning agents. Many foods are stocked in bulk to reduce the price to the customer and the waste of packaging (please bring bags when buying!). Special orders can be made at discount prices (good for items not necessarily carried in the store, as well!).

Come in to shop, get informed, and/or volunteer as a general member of our store. For more information, call (858) 546-8339.

I will also point out some other UCSD co-ops that I liked when I was a student there.

The Ché Café

The Ché Café Collective is dedicated to providing cheap, healthy vegetarian food, all-ages entertainment, and alternative education. We have All-We-Can-Eat dinners every Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm. Entertainment at the Ché ranges from poetry readings and plays to forums, or shows of local bands.

The Ché Café is surrounded by a grove of old eucalyptus trees and is next to the beautiful garden of the Farm Co-op. Tables and chairs inside and outside of the Ché and its close proximity to the Farm Co-op make it an inviting place to eat, study, or just hang out.

The Ché Café is open to having people come by and help out. The Café provides a great opportunity for people to get involved in the process of cooking, running a restaurant and/or putting on events at any level they feel comfortable at. Stop by or call us at (858) 534-2311.

(The Ché Café is located on the Revelle campus behind the Undergraduate library and down the hill from Stonehenge. We're the building with all the murals on it.) Read more about the Che Cafe Collective at its very own website: http://checafe.ucsd.edu/.

General Store

The General Store Co-op is a student-run store which was founded in 1980 to offer students a less expensive alternative to the high Price Center. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is not quite right...the Price Center didn't even exist when the General Store was founded and greatly appreciated by students like myself.] As a student cooperative, we try to provide the University community with the best quality merchandise at the lowest prices. And we succeed! The General Store Co-op carries items such as selected essential school and office supplies, household and personal items, stationery and gift wrap, clothing (including UCSD logos), craft-center jewelry, and some food and snack items -- all of which range from 5-25% less than anywhere else on campus.

Students are generally most interested in the fact that we sell textbooks, which are guaranteed to cost less than at the UCSD bookstore. We also try to carry as many used texts as possible. Also, we buy back current editions year round. Stop by to check which classes' books we're carrying.

We encourage everyone to visit the General Store Co-op for our low prices and friendly service. Additionally, anyone is invited to come in and volunteer anytime as volunteers are the backbone of our organization. For further information or friendly help please feel free to call us at (858) 534-3932.